Today we received the most wonderful and unexpected blessing...pictures from Beau's first birthday in Korea. The
first birthday celebration in Korea is known as a tol (or
dol, depending on translation) and it is a very important day. Children wear a
hanbok at the celebration and there is traditionally a well-decorated
tol table.
As I was going through the mail today, I noticed an envelope from our adoption agency. I wasn't expecting anything, so I quickly opened it. Much to my surprise, there was a cd.
I ran inside and put the cd in the computer. When I opened the first file, I thought they had sent the cd to the wrong family, because it was a precious baby, but it wasn't Beau.
As I kept looking through the cd, I realized that each file was labeled with a baby's name. It was written in hangul, but I found Beau's name and opened it up! There were pictures of sweet Beau and his wonderful foster mom at his tol. What a blessing to have these photos!!
The adoption agency in Korea, Holt, plans a birthday party each month for all of the babies in their care that turn one that month. So Beau celebrated his first birthday at his tol with 14 other sweet babies that also turned one in June.
There was also a
cd of pictures set to music, but unfortunately Beau was not in the video. There were also not any pictures of
Beau's toljabee.
Obviously we don't know for sure, but we think that Beau and his foster mom may have had to get to the party early and leave early. You see, in one of the pictures, a lady is ironing the fabric backdrop. This leads me to believe that maybe they were there a little early. Also, all of the other babies seem to have pictures of their toljabee and blowing out candles on a cake. Maybe these events took place later during the party and Beau had already left.
We are so very thankful for the pictures and we know that Beau will treasure them!
As I continued looking into the envelope that I received from our adoption agency, there was also a single printed picture. It was of Beau and his foster mom on the day he left Korea to come home. I cried and cried when I saw this. So much love and sadness all at once. Beau's foster mom never intended to care for him permanently, but that doesn't mean she loved him any less. You can see how much she loves him in all of the pictures.
In the photo, Beau is in the same shorts and socks that he came home wearing. He is in a different shirt. I'm sure his shirt had to be changed at some point during the 18+ hours of traveling. You can tell that Beau's foster mom has been crying in the picture.
I am not sure if these pictures were sent from Holt Korea (the adoption agency) or if Beau's foster mother sent them. I may email our agency in the US and see if they can find out if the cd of pictures came from Beau's foster mom or the agency.
I have tried to upload a few pictures to share, but they really large files and won't upload. I will keep working with it to see if I can get a few pictures up soon!
P.S. Hi sweet cousin Erica! I think you let me borrow this green vest the first time I went to meet Raleigh's parents in Colorado. Well, that was like 6+ years ago and I still have your vest and I'm obviously still wearing it! oops!! You can have it back now! I love you! 
